The Lyric

Small, slightly shambolic and with a jovial share-a-table type of vibe, The Lyric is a longstanding favourite, not least because its location near a fantastically crowded part of London—the West End, Soho, Piccadilly, Regent Street—makes it a diamond in the rough (albeit a happy-scrappy one) amid disappointing pricey traps. The Victorian pub’s 18 taps pour out reliable pints including Camden Hells and Brooklyn Lager, as well as more unusual fare such as hyper-citrussy High Wire Grapefruit brew (the clue is in the name) from Magic Rock. For something quieter, retire upstairs for a fish finger sandwich and an unfiltered Electric Eye Pale Ale from new brewers Big Smoke. This is your safe haven away from the fray.